Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health disorders today represent the greatest burden of disease worldwide. For decades, both problems have been addressed in a fragmented manner, despite sharing social determinants, risk factors and profound economic consequences. However, in December 2025, the international community marked a turning point where global leaders adopted a historic declaration to address NCDs and mental health in an integrated manner, with concrete goals towards the year 2030.

This agreement, adopted at the United Nations General Assembly, recognizes that it is not possible to improve population health without simultaneously addressing mental well-being and chronic diseases, responsible for more than 70% of global deaths and a substantial part of disability and loss of productivity in all regions of the world.

The double burden: chronic diseases and mental health

NCDs include pathologies such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. These conditions not only cause premature mortality, but also require prolonged care, generate high health costs and affect the quality of life of millions of people.

In parallel, mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, affect more than 1 billion people in the world, and are one of the main causes of global disability. Scientific evidence shows that there is a bidirectional relationship between both conditions, people with NCDs have a higher risk of developing mental disorders, and those who suffer from mental health problems have a worse prognosis and lower adherence to the treatment of chronic diseases. This recognition was key to promoting a joint political response, which goes beyond the traditional view of health as an exclusively biomedical phenomenon.

A historic declaration: what was agreed?

The Political Declaration on Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health approved in December 2025 establishes a global framework for action based on equity, prevention and strengthening of health systems. Among its most relevant commitments are:

– Reduce tobacco consumption by at least 150 million people by 2030.
– Ensure that 150 million additional people with hypertension have effective control.
– Guarantee access to mental health services for 150 million more people in the world.

Additionally,Countries committed to strengthening primary care, ensuring access to essential medicines, improving financial protection for patients, and developing robust surveillance systems for NCDs and mental health.

Why this change in focus now?

Non-communicable diseases currently represent the main cause of death in the world, responsible for nearly 70% of all global deaths. These chronic conditions are closely associated with preventable risk factors, such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and environmental pollution. Many of these same factors also affect mental health, demonstrating that the NCD-mental health binomial is more than the sum of two separate problems: it is an interconnected reality.

Despite their enormous burden, both NCDs and mental disorders have suffered from long periods of political undervaluation and underfunding of health systems, which has delayed effective and coordinated responses. Recognizing this crisis, separately and together, has taken decades of scientific and civic mobilization, until reaching this historic moment at the UN.

Global objectives: what do we want to achieve by 2030?

The new declaration represents the first time that joint global goals of this nature have been proposed, with specific and quantifiable objectives that seek to transform the world’s health systems over the next seven years. Among the main commitments are:

➡️ 150 million fewer tobacco users: Tobacco remains one of the deadliest risk factors for NCDs, and its reduction could prevent millions of premature deaths.

➡️ 150 million more people with hypertension under control: Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke; Improving your diagnosis and treatment improves overall health outcomes.

➡️ 150 million more people with access to mental health care: This goal aims to close deep gaps in the provision of mental health services, especially in regions where access is limited.

To ensure the fulfillment of these goals, the declaration also proposes progress indicators for 2030, such as:

– At least 80% of countries have robust regulatory, legislative and fiscal frameworks related to NCDs and mental health.

– 80% of primary care units have recommended essential medications and technologiesned by the WHO.

– At least 60% of countries implement financial protection that reduces costs for patients related to these conditions.

– That 80% of countries have active multisectoral national plans and solid surveillance systems.

These goals not only represent health goals, but also drivers of equity, sustainable development and social justice.

What does this mean for global health?

The declaration reaffirms that NCDs and mental health are not only medical problems, but also challenges that affect the economy, communities and social well-being. Its integrated approach recognizes multiple dimensions from the promotion of healthy lifestyles to the reduction of inequalities in access to health services.

In addition, this new policy incorporates emerging challenges, such as air pollution, exposure to dangerous chemicals, the impact of excessive use of screens and social networks, and the need for stricter regulation of products such as electronic cigarettes and ultra-processed foods.

Such an approach demonstrates that responses to these problems require transversal and multisectoral efforts, involving not only ministries of health, but also sectors such as education, agriculture, environment, finance and labor, as well as civil society, community organizations and people with lived experiences of illness.

Opinions and controversies around the declaration

Although the declaration had overwhelming support from a majority of the states, it was not unanimous. Countries such as the United States and Argentina voted against this historic document, sparking debates about sovereignty, national priorities, and how global goals should be implemented in local contexts.

Critics have noted that the goals, although ambitious, require serious financing, sustained political will and deep structural reforms, conditions that are not guaranteed in many low- and middle-income countries. However, defenders of the declaration assure that its adoption represents a unique opportunity to redesign health systems, promote effective prevention and reduce the burden of disease in a sustainable way.

Looking to 2030: Risks and opportunities

Meeting these goals will not be easy. Health systems in many regions remain weakened by years of underinvestment, access barriers, inequalities and the recent CO pandemicVID-19, which left profound lessons about the need for resilient systems.

Still, there are clear opportunities; innovation in therapies and care models, the rapid growth of digital health technologies, and a greater understanding of the impact of mental health on productivity and quality of life can accelerate the transformation.

Likewise, the alignment of this declaration with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically target 3.4, seeks to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one third and promote mental health and well-being by 2030, thus creating a robust complementary framework for global action.

A new era in global health

The recent world declaration on chronic diseases and mental health represents more than a political commitment, an unprecedented global call to action. Through ambitious targets, clear indicators and an equity-focused approach, NCDs and mental disorders are expected to move from fragmented challenges to pillars of an integrated global health strategy.

If decisively implemented, this roadmap has the potential to change millions of lives, reduce economic burdens, strengthen health systems, and move us closer to a world where mental and physical health are addressed with the urgency, dignity, and resources they deserve.

Bibliography

– World Health Organization. (2025, December 16). World leaders adopted a historic global declaration on noncommunicable diseases and mental health. WHO.

– World Health Organization. (2024). Noncommunicable diseases. WHO.

– United Nations. (2025). Political declaration of the high-level meeting on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being. United Nations.

– World Health Organization. (2023). Mental health and chronic disease: the bidirectional relationship. WHO.